Remove "Afflicted" Docuseries from Netflix Now

PETITION NOTE: On September 18th, a group of concerned writers, activists, artists, filmmakers, physicians, and scientists came together to write an open letter to Netflix to request that Afflicted be immediately removed from the service. Sign this petition to endorse the letter. All signatures will be sent to Netflix. Please note that the below is an excerpt. You are encouraged to read the full text of the letter at: https://medium.com/@afflicted/open-letter-to-netflix-regarding-the-afflicted-docuseries-d2b5263c9eb6----------
We request that “Afflicted” docuseries be immediately removed from the service. We further request that a formal apology be released that includes a statement of Netflix’s future plans for the programming of documentaries, television, comedy specials, and feature films about disability and projects that include talent, key crew, and/or consultants with disabilities.

We express our profound disappointment with the recently released Netflix docuseries “Afflicted.” We are deeply concerned about its unethical treatment of its subjects and its many factual errors and omissions. Its inclusion on your platform—which reaches three hundred million viewers worldwide—will reinforce barriers to appropriate medical care or disability benefits, dampen the support of vital research, and add to the stigma and social isolation of an already profoundly marginalized group of people.

“Afflicted” was introduced to participants as a series that would “compassionately” represent their experiences with diseases that lack proper diagnostic tools and effective treatments. But rather than authentically depict these participants’ experiences and the biomedical research that might explain their illnesses, “Afflicted” used every creative tool and untenable journalistic practice to advance a narrative that suggests these patients’ problems are primarily psychological, a theory that is not supported by the evidence. Moreover, the “Afflicted” team engaged in multiple unethical practices to create their docuseries—from misrepresenting their intentions to showing apparent diagnoses from doctors who had never examined the subjects.

“Afflicted” offered no objective evidence backing its claim for a psychosomatic basis. And it excluded substantial medical and scientific evidence that would have helped explain the subjects’ diagnoses.

The problems with this film aren’t just hypothetical: The participants are already suffering for their participation, receiving intense online harassment, having their professional reputations questioned, and having friends turn against them. And if “Afflicted” remains on Netflix, it will hurt many more people. Many people living with chronic illnesses, including those depicted in “Afflicted”, are routinely denied disability benefits. Some are abandoned by their families and fall into poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity when they become too ill to work. The stigma surrounding these conditions among health care providers poses a barrier to accessing quality medical care, putting patients at risk. The disbelief of loved ones—and the culture at large—contributes to the high rates of suicide among patients with these conditions.

The inclusion of people with disabilities in the telling of their own stories is essential to the creation of compelling, ethical, authentic cinema. Netflix has been an important platform for this conversation with programs such as “The Punk Rock Singer,” “My Beautiful Broken Brain,” “To The Bone,” and “Unrest.” Yet “Afflicted” was helmed by apparently able-bodied people, and displayed the disabled as curiosities for the entertainment of others.

Why is this important?

Netflix executives need to hear from as many people as possible that the the problems with this film are real and serious. The participants are already suffering for their participation, receiving intense online harassment, having their professional reputations questioned, and having friends turn against them. And if “Afflicted” remains on Netflix, it will hurt many more people. Many people living with chronic illnesses, including those depicted in “Afflicted”, are routinely denied disability benefits. Some are abandoned by their families and fall into poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity when they become too ill to work. The stigma surrounding these conditions among health care providers poses a barrier to accessing quality medical care, putting patients at risk. The disbelief of loved ones—and the culture at large—contributes to the high rates of suicide among patients with these conditions.

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Reasons for signing

Netflix must end the robbery here and now. These precious, hurting people have been exploited and misrepresented. It is not just, it is so very wrong on so many levels. Netflix, please remove this series from your line up. And redeem a shred of what has been stolen from the disabled persons used unethically for Afflicted producers own gains.

Amie F.
2019-05-15 23:44:28 -0400

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What the producers did was disgusting!

Guernica J.
2019-04-28 03:02:31 -0400

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To all chronic pain sufferers, please know that the bias of Netflix was obvious and many viewers will know that they didn't get a balanced story. It is not "all in your head". Where are the filmed visits to mainstream medical professionals who have validated some of your symptoms with causes but left you needing further help?
Netflix please remove the series.